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NIETES SHOULD WIN WITH NO PROBLEM


PhilBoxing.com




Soft spoken and unassuming World Boxing Organization minimum weight champion Donnie ?Ahas/Snake? Nietes should have no problem retaining his world title in his third defense in Mexico against 21 year old hometown boy Mario Rodriguez in Sinaloa, Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time in a fight to be telecast by GMA 7 at 3:00 p.m.

When we watched Nietes train for the title defense both in Cebu where he sparred with OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes and skilled, world-rated Milan Melindo and later worked out in the Elorde Gym in Gilmore, San Juan, it was clear that Nietes was in great shape.

According to his trainer Edmund Villamor, Nietes has been training since February waiting for a title defense to happen which ultimately came along under a promotional undertaking of Mexican legend Erik ?El Terrible? Morales.

Nietes looked not only quicker but stronger in training which he attributed to the new conditioning coach of the ALA Gym.

Given Nietes? record of 26-1-3 with 15 knockouts and Rodriguez record of 10-5-3 with 7 knockouts experience will be another factor in favor of Nietes.

The tape we previewed of Rodriguez vs Ivan Meneses which ended in a ten round draw showed that Rodriguez does throw some power shots anchored around a left hook as well as a right hook but that he leaves himself wide open for a shot right down the middle as well as an uppercut which Nietes has perfected in his workouts.

Nietes who tipped the scales exactly at the 105 pound limit at the official weigh-in in the middle of the busy Corridegidora Street in downtown Guasave which is a small town with only one major hotel told us that he was not taking any chances with a hometown decision and would go for a knockout.

Rodriguez who came in at 103.2 pounds is known to have power in both hands and with the hometown fans expected to cheer on the local boy, the young Mexican is certain to go all-out for victory but against the talented champion Nietes, is unlikely to succeed.

The ring savvy, power, speed and experience of Nietes should all add up to another title defense even as the soft-spoken champion aims to set a new record of holding on to his title longer than the late world junior lightweight champion Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde who reigned for almost seven-and-a-half years.

Prior to his departure for a two-week stint at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach and then on to Mesico, Nietes told us he wants to fight for another 10 years and hang on to his title.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


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